Week 5 keys to victory: Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts

The keys to a Chicago Bears victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.

It finally happened, the Chicago Bears secured their first win of the season last week against the Detroit Lions. Now the name of the game is momentum, and the Bears have an excellent opportunity to start a win streak against a beat up Colts team. Before we get started let’s look at how the Bears did on their keys to victory last week

Week 4 keys: 3/3

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) hugs Chicago Bears wide receiver Josh Bellamy (11) after beating the Detroit Lions 17-14 at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

1. Get Cameron Meredith and Josh Bellamy involved.

Kevin White’s injury will give a significant test to the Bears’ depth at wide out. The “next man up” speech has been given often this season, but the Bears’ young wideouts will have to step up.

Joshua Bellamy received reps last season due to a slew of injuries, and it looks like the injury bug will once again force Bellamy into action. While Bellamy’s sample size is rather small, he has shown that he is capable of producing big plays. Both of his career touchdown catches have been over 30 yards (34 and 48). With Jeffery drawing a considerable amount of coverage, Bellamy may have some home run opportunities.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) celebrates with Chicago Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith (81) after he scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Bellamy is technically ahead on the depth chart, but Cameron Meredith has been the one receiving game reps. Meredith has logged 6 catches for 52 yards this season, and his role is only expected to grow. The first thing that stands out about the former Illinois State quarterback is his size. Meredith is listed at 6’3, which is the same height as Alshon Jeffery. Much Like Jeffery, Meredith is capable of acrobatic catches over the middle of the field and along the sidelines. The undrafted free agent also plays with an unmistakable chip on his shoulder which is apparent when he goes over the middle of the field on slant routes.

Alshon Jeffery should be double covered for the majority of the afternoon, and Eddie Royal will be far from 100% with a calf injury. That leaves one on one match-ups for either Meredith or Bellamy to win. In the NFL, one on one match-ups in the NFL usually determine the winner and loser of a game. If the tandem of Meredith and Bellamy is able own their match-ups, the Bears are will have a great day on offense.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

2. Put Andrew Luck under pressure early and often.

The Chicago Bears sacked Matthew Stafford twice last weekend, but they failed to put on consistent pressure. If the Bears want to win on today, they must make Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck uncomfortable in the pocket. The Colts have surrendered at least 2 sacks every game this season.

Willie Young must be a significant factor in today’s game if the Bears want to leave Indy with a win. So far, Young has been a major disappointment after signing an extension this summer. After logging 16 sacks between the 2014 and 2015 season, Young has only got to the quarterback once this year. He failed to even get a tackle last week against the Lions. With both Lamar Houston and Pernell McPhee out, the Bears need Young to set the tone. The stars are certainly aligning for Young to have a breakout game. The Colts will be fielding two linemen who are battling injuries on Sunday.

The Bears could also benefit from sending rookie linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski on blitzes. The rookie certainly needs to develop as a football player, but Kwiatkoski might possess the most raw power on the Bears’ defense. He is capable of putting linemen on their backsides in one on one match-ups. The Colts could have problems trying to cover up his formidable bull rush.

Regardless of who applies the pressure, Luck needs to be either on his back, or facing constant pressure. When defenses sacked Luck 2 times or fewer, he threw for 716 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In contrast, when the defense sacked Luck more than 2 times, he threw for 431 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Luck will dice up the Bears’ secondary if given the chance which is why the front seven of Chicago must maintain pressure throughout the afternoon.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach John Fox during the second half against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

3. Never fall behind by more than 10 points

Some teams are capable of playing from behind. The Chicago Bears are not one of those teams. Chicago currently performs best in a slug fest. Play bend and not break defense, and then pummel the opposing team with a vicious run game that controls the clock. It’s not flashy football, but it’s a formula that has made John Fox successful in the past, and it’s what fans should expect.

Should the Bears fall behind by 14 or more, their run first game-plan becomes significantly harder to execute. Bears’ quarterback Brian Hoyer functions best as a game manager, not the quarterback who throws for over 350 yards and 4 scores in a comeback bid. It’s borderline impossible to stay committed to the run when the deficit reaches past 10 points.

The Colts have been a momentum team so far this year. They fell behind 21-3 against Detroit, but came back and nearly won the game. They pulled within 3 points of the Denver Broncos, but then allowed 11 points in the span of 3 seconds to lose the game. There will be plenty of opportunities against the Colts, but Chicago needs to be weary of their vicious counterpunches.

In order to play the Colts close, the Bears will need to eclipse 20 points for the first time this season. While the 17-14 win against the Lions was great, the Colts pack significantly more firepower than Detroit. That doesn’t mean that Hoyer needs to launch deep passes into double coverage, but it does require the Bears to finish drives more often. That extends from kicker Connor Barth connecting on easy field goals to the offense converting one more first down to get into field goal range. It could also mean going for a fade route instead of a quick screen or draw play.

Those are the keys to victory for the Bears this week! Go Bears!